It has already got former Cisco chief technology officer Padmasree Warrior and Airbnb global expansion head Var sha Rao for this role. Kalaari has $650 million assets under management.BENGALURU: Venture capital firm Kalaari Capital has started an accelerator programme for startups called Kstart. It will have a new batch every quarter of up to five startups. As part of the programme, Kalaari will provide the startups with capital up to $500,000 via a convertible equity instrument.

The convertible equity instrument will convert into preferred stock when a startup closes its Series A fundraising. The firm will rope in catalysts, who will also be co-investors in the companies. It has already got former Cisco chief technology officer Padmasree Warrior and Airbnb global expansion head Var sha Rao for this role. Kalaari has $650 million assets under management.

Tata amazed by growth rate of start-ups Ratan Tata, while speaking at the launch, said the companies he had invested in in the past few years have grown at rates he could not possibly have believed could happen.

“The question, however, is of maintaining the rate.You can also have a high burn rate and they can taper off and become albatrosses around your neck.The rate and pace is something I am not familiar with, it is difficult for someone coming from the conventional industry to understand,” he said.